There is such controversy and judgment around the use of cannabis – even when used by those that are suffering from serious illnesses and in cases where conventional therapies have been tried and failed to alleviate symptoms or pain. However, I will tell you this, the moment you see someone you love balled up and crying in pain or withering away in front of your eyes due to not being able to eat, all judgment immediately fades away.
I, myself, have been in this situation of watching a loved one in pain and dying twice. The first time was fifteen years ago. The day started out like all others as my step-father finished his coffee and went out to start his usual morning routine of feeding and caring for the handful of animals we had on the farm, a batch of hound-dogs at his heels. I was watching him fondly through the window when, all of a sudden, he fell to the ground. And didn’t get up. I called out to my mom and we ran out to him. Eighteen hours later, the emergency room surgeon informed us he had Stage IV cancer that had spread to most of his vital organs and his brain. We were told there was no cure and the only hope was that treatment would help to lesson his pain as it progressed. A month later, after weeks of initial chemotherapy, my step-father was unable to eat and almost always in pain. I suggested using medical marijuana to see if it wouldn’t provide some relief. This was a very radical suggestion, as my step-father had not only never smoked but also never had a drop of alcohol in his life. He even scoffed at prescription drugs. But he was desperate and all his judgment disappeared. Soon after he began to feel better and was able to eat again. It remained the one medicine that helped him until the very end.
The second time was this year. One of my very best friends was diagnosed with metastatic melanoma – Stage IV. She had tumors growing rapidly throughout her body, and the cancer was already in her lymph system and blood stream. She was 38, and, like me, a full time single mom of a ten year old. She was also an avid believer in alternative medicine and strongly resisted traditional treatments, such as chemotherapy and radiation. However, as the lesions spread, she relented and participated in a clinical trial of Interleukin 2 injections. The side effects were debilitating. Almost every day I would visit and just sit with her, holding her hand as tears streamed down her courageous face. Soon after, keeping any food down was almost impossible and her appetite was non-existent. Already light in weight, her systems began to fail due to lack of nutrition. As part of her caregiving team, I suggested we try medicinal marijuana. We created carefully crafted marijuana tinctures and recipes she could ingest. We were grateful for the relief and slight increase in appetite the medicine brought to her. Sadly, we lost her only months after diagnosis, but at least she suffered less with the help of the tinctures.
Why do I share these experiences with you here? To give hope. And perhaps also to persuade and open minds.
That is what Doobons is all about. Sharing information and creating connections so that those that are dealing with serious illnesses (or those of us that care for them) don’t have to suffer. Doobons shares resources, referrals and up-to-date medical and legal news about medical marijuana to make the way easier and provide hope when all else has failed. I wish Doobons had existed fifteen years ago when I was researching how to get medical marijuana for my step-dad. If you or someone you know is suffering from cancer, MS, Parkinson’s, chronic anxiety, or any other serious condition in which conventional treatments are not helping, Doobons is here to answer your questions, connect you with the best resources, and lend support along the path of finding medical treatment that will help.
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Thank you for sharing your story. My heart goes out to you for letting us into this part of your life.